The day after Christmas features three NFL games, one of which is only available via streaming on Amazon Prime (Cardinals/Niners) and that is without a doubt my favorite game of the day. Nice job NFL, keep pushing streaming only options out there on your fans while you make it difficult for fans to affordably pay for a streaming Sunday Ticket service. We are at the point of the Ambush season where we are like an NFL team just waiting for the playoffs to begin and so I am giving everyone the format of the article that fits best for what the slate brings.
You will notice that the Main slate article this week is a little similar to this layout below but alot of this layout change is due to it only being three games. I am going position by position to outline what the most common plays are at that spot and highlighting the one who I have as my Ambush play for each position with some additional notes on the slate (values, stacks, contrarian stud, etc.) at the bottom of the article. The actual analysis is unchanged but it’s more the method on how it’s being delivered that should help with these specific slates that we have.
The three games which are going off this Saturday include:
- Bucs at Lions (Dome)
- 49ers at Cardinals (Dome)
- Dolphins at Raiders (Dome)
So as you can see, we have no weather issues which is great news this time of year.
QUARTERBACKS
Kyler Murray
I expect the Cardinals/Niners game to be the highest scoring game today and Murray is back to rushing the ball inside the red-zone which puts his ceiling far above anyone elses. San Francisco’s defense continues to just play out the stretch and they had a hard time slowing down DeAndre Hopkins back in week 1.
The only other viable options that I see on this slate are between Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford in a game which should funnel the Lions into a heavy passing game and Brady should find a way to have time to do whatever he wants on offense against the Lions. But the challenge for that game is that I don’t see Detroit being able to have enough success in the passing game against an active Bucs defense and the Bucs can spread it around even to their running game which really kills the Brady upside in my mind.
Just Missed The Cut: Matt Stafford … due to a funnel situation to the passing game.
Not Touching: Tua Tagovailoa
RUNNING BACKS
Josh Jacobs
Las Vegas will have had Nine days off between games and will also be playing their third straight home game. Things like that do matter and this is a moment where Gruden can show his offensive coaching ability by winning a game with Marcus Mariota at QB over the surging Dolphins defense. The way to attack Miami? On the ground and what better option to have at your disposal than Josh Jacobs touching the ball well over 20 times against a defense who can only be run on due to their white hot secondary. Out of the six teams playing only Jacobs is in a spot where he should see close to 98% of his teams usage at RB. Tampa has three guys who will be involved, Detroit has two, Arizona has two, San Francisco has a handful and even Miami is mixing it up as well.
Just Missed The Cut: Kenyan Drake / Chase Edmonds, Miles Gaskin
Not Touching: TB/DET running backs
WIDE RECEIVER
DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk
These are the mainstays this week to pair with Kyler in a game he can air it out and provide upside rushing. Hopkins has had a well documented stretch of bad CB 1 matchups but the last two weeks has clearly emerged from the cloak of stud defenders as the competition lightens up. He has a matchup this week that he exploited heavily in week one and should wind up as WR1 on the short three game slate. Christian Kirk on the other hand is my Ambush pivot because he too has struggled as the Arizona passing game struggles but this is a clear get right spot and his price has dropped too far for the big play ability he still possesses.
DeVante Parker
When Parker is healthy he is a PPR machine. Against a favorable secondary he should have an insane high volume game provided he is cleared to go and stays in.
Chris Godwin
After watching Antonio Brown catch “the big one” last week I am going right back to the Chris Godwin well. The Lions allow teams to pass at 68% completion rate and 77% over their last three. Brady will have all the time he needs to pick them apart from the 5-20 yard range and thats music to the Godwin owners ears this week.
Just Missed The Cut: Mike Evans, Brandon Aiyuk, Marvin Jones
Not Touching:
TIGHT END
T.J. Hockenson
Seven, eight, nine, eleven and four. Those are the totals on the targets Hockenson has seen the last five weeks as Kenny Golladay continues to miss time for Detroit. Tampa Bay is one of the bottom teams statistically in allowing fantasy points to opposing TE’s so this isn’t much of a decision for me. Waller is $2400 more and the only comparible TE in the same price range as Hockenson is Mike Gisecki, but the major difference is Detroit will have no success running vs Tampa while Miami should be able to run a little bit vs Las Vegas. So it’s Hockenson that I have far more faith in.
Just Missed The Cut: Mike Gisecki
Not Touching: Darren Waller
DEFENSE
Tampa Bay Bucs
The most likely defenses on this slate are Tampa, Arizona and Miami. The Dolphins have been the best of the three but Tampa is fairly consistent with 11 sacks in their last three and the Detroit offensive line is similar in lack of quality to their previous two opponents Minnesota and Atlanta in terms of protecting the QB. They should get to Stafford enough and likely force a turnover or two.
Just Missed The Cut: Las Vegas Defense (I expect Tua mistakes)
Not Touching: Nobody. The other chalk defense is going to be Arizona and I am equally fine with them along with Tampa, but I guess you could argue I am not touching a pricey Dolphins Defense.
AMBUSH TOP PLAYS
Kyler Murray, Josh Jacobs, TJ Hockenson, Tampa Defense
AMBUSH VALUES OF THE DAY
Tevin Coleman – RB – San Francisco
There is always one game a year when Kyle Shanahan seems to walk up to Coleman’s locker and tell him “It’s Time”. With Coleman being relegated to mostly special teams lately nobody will be touching him but I think this is the perfect game for the more physical Coleman to slide in over Jerrick McKinnon or Jeff Wilson and get more touches with Raheem Mostert out.
Lynn Bowden – WR – Miami
It’s trending towards this being the true breakout week for the cheap but trendy Lynn Bowden. Bowden drafted by the Raiders in the third round and then traded away to Miami, now he is getting playing time and is being used a ton in the passing game. He’s only $3,900 and likely is the top value chalk play on the board this week. He’s a logical play and someone you’ll want heavy exposure too.
AMBUSH STACK OF THE DAY
49ers vs Cardinals
Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Tevin Coleman, Brandon Aiyuk
There is always one game a year when Kyle Shanahan seems to walk up to Coleman’s locker and tell him “It’s Time”. With Coleman being relegated to mostly special teams lately nobody will be touching him but I think this is the perfect game for the more physical Coleman to slide in over Jerrick McKinnon or Jeff Wilson and get more touches with Raheem Mostert out.
FAVORITE BETS
Tampa Bay -10
Las Vegas +3
Arizona/San Francisco OVER 48.5